The New England Conservatory of Music vs American Conservatory Theater

Nestled in the heart of Boston, The New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) and American Conservatory Theater (ACT) stand as two prominent institutions dedicated to nurturing artistic talent. NEC, renowned for its exceptional music programs, boasts an acceptance rate of 33%, while ACT, known for its rigorous theater training, maintains a highly selective acceptance rate of 1.8%. Both institutions offer a diverse range of programs, with NEC specializing in classical music, jazz, and contemporary music, and ACT focusing on acting, directing, and stage management. While NEC's student body comprises 70% female and 30% male students, ACT's student population is more evenly distributed, with 52% female and 48% male students. With graduation rates of 85% and 80% respectively, both institutions prioritize supporting their students in achieving their artistic aspirations. To help you make an informed decision about your artistic education, we present a comprehensive comparison of NEC and
American Conservatory Theater logo

American Conservatory Theater

The New England Conservatory of Music logo

The New England Conservatory of Music

Overview

Location San Francisco, California Boston, Massachusetts
Campus setting City: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 91.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate N/A 43.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $90

Graduate: $90
Undergraduate: $125

Graduate: $125
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 952
Total number of admissions given out 412
Admitted students who chose to enroll 90
Yield rate 21.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $51,676 $75,230
Average net price $38,409
Tuition $30,235 $52,730
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $12,380

Meal plan: $5,680
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

96.0%
Average amount $23,478
Students receiving federal student loan 37.0%
Average amount $5,014
Students taking out private loans 0.0%
Average amount $0

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 11
Men 45.5% Women 54.5%
423
Men 55.1% Women 44.9%
Graduate students 13
Men 46.2% Women 53.8%
404
Men 50.2% Women 49.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity N/A
Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students N/A 39.1%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity N/A 256
First year students are required to live on campus? N/A No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio 6:1 5:1
Institutional accreditation N/A New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 100.0% 82.6%
Dropout rate N/A 10.5%
Transferred out N/A 7.0%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $18,087
  • Year 3: $27,588
Music (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $20,682
  • Year 2: $24,035
  • Year 3: $24,955
Music (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $10,847
  • Year 2: $11,851
  • Year 3: $18,971

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